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After learning the boy's death was likely due to "dry drowning," his family worked to warn other parents about the rare condition and the story was shared nationwide.

Garon Vega told KTRK that this story helped him recognize the symptoms in his own son after a swimming trip.

When he noticed 2-year-old Gio was running a fever and having trouble breathing he rushed him to the hospital.

Doctors said the child would not have made it through the night if his father had not brought him in when he did.

“Their little boy saved our little boy’s life,” Vega told KTRK. “There was a purpose. It was an unfortunate thing that happened, but if I had not told my wife that [Gio] swallowed the water and if she had not seen that article, I think we would’ve ended up dispelling it as a regular sickness.”

Dry drowning can occur hours or days after a person inhales water and mostly affects young children. Medical experts said symptoms of dry drowning include trouble breathing, persistent coughing, sleepiness and fatigue, and vomiting.